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In the early hours of a wet and miserable Friday morning, while many were still stumbling home from Coppers on Hardcore St, including most of the Paddy Power Marketing Team, we decided that we best protect our assets. Don’t be silly – wrap up your willy, and all that.

Ireland welcome the old enemy to Dublin for the first time since English hooligans tore Lansdowne Road to pieces. Seriously though, they tried to rob the seats the last time, who knows what could happen this weekend.

So in an act which could be seen as both necessary and over the top, Paddy Power have moved to protect their closest shop to the ground by Yob-Proofing the exterior of their Baggot St branch.

The extraordinary step has seen PP cover the entire shop with bubble wrap in the hopes of avoiding any damage that may come from violent yobs, knobs and hooligans who may infiltrate the Three Lions’ well-meaning travelling support. We’re hoping that we won’t be proved right, but after some cheeky pup flew the tri-colour over Stormont this week, and history being brought up in relation to the FAI… but have a look for yourself:

The historic match will see Ireland host England for the first time since the infamous 1995 Landsdowne Road riot which forced the abandonment of the match with the Boys In Green leading 1-0.

Times have definitely changed since though, the last meeting between the two footballing sides ended in a 1-1 draw in Wembley in 2013… when Shane Long scored for Ireland. A couple of weeks later, the English fans wanted him called up to the England squad after his performances in the Premier League. Lolz.

The last meeting of major significance between Ireland and England came between the posh rugger buggers in the 6 Nations. In fairness, the fans did both nations proud when England were welcomed into Croke Park, but this weekend’s football game could be a fiery encounter.

The game definitely means more than a friendly to the Irish – Wes Hoolahan has been bold and disobeyed his club’s wishes to make himself available for the game against England… despite the fact he risks aggravating an injury which could see him miss out on the crucial qualifier game against Scotland. A gas man altogether.

Regarding the stunt, Paddy Power said “It’s not that I’m anti-English. Some of my best friends are English. But you can’t deny they have sent us some bad eggs over time. Cromwell for example. He would have smashed up The Aviva if it was around in the 1600s. Us Irish wage war in a more subtle way. We just pillage their players and send them Louis Walsh”